Fruit-box



(N0 Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. A. H. MEEOH. FRUIT BOX.

No. 493,779. Patented Mar. 21. 189 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED H. MEEOH, OF OHATl-IAM, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,779, dated March 21, 1893.

Application filed May 24, 1892. Serial No. 434,178. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. MEECH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghatham, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel folding box of angular form which possesses increased strength at every corner by the provision of a duplex thickness and a peculiar interlocking of the wings or flaps comprising the box walls, the construction being such as to produce a useful, economical, substantial and efficient shipping or transporting box or crate well adapted for berries, grapes, and other fruits or perishable articles, and susceptible of being folded from a single piece of flexible material with the box walls securely interlocked, braced and strengthened to promote its utility and prevent the accidental disengagement or separation of the parts.

The invention consists essentially in a box blank formed with a series of radiating wings or flaps every one of which is provided at each end portion with a hook receiving slot and a projecting locking tongue piece or hooked extension so that each end of every wing or flap enters into engagement with the slot in acontiguous wing or flap and also into engagement with the locking tongue piece or hooked extension of such contiguous wing or flap, whereby the parts are securely connected by a duplex fastening and a double thickness of interlocked parts is provided at every box corner to render the box strong and substantial.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a plan view of abox blank constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, is a perspective view of a partially completed box. Fig. 3, is a similar view of a complete box. Fig. 4, is a perspective view of a modification, and Fig. 5, is a plan view of a modified construction of box blank.

The box blank may be produced from a sheet of paper, cardboard, pasteboard, veneer, or any other material susceptible of being folded or bent and otherwise suitable for the conditions required, and it comprises a bottom wall portion 1 having creases 2 so arranged that an approximately square box is produced when the radiating wings or flaps 3are folded or turned up and connected as will hereinafter appear. The angular shape of the box can be somewhat varied by altering the shape or by increasing or diminishing the number of the wings or flaps, but the form or con figuration illustrated is preferable. The junctions of the inclined edges 4 of each flap with the bottom portion 1 are preferably constructed with a circular or similar shaped opening or cut out portion 5 to facilitate bending or turning the wings or flaps to produce the box walls, and if ventilation is desired, the flaps or wings are provided with perforations 6.

The peculiar characteristics of my invention consist in the peculiar means for connecting the wings or flaps to produce a duplex thickness and a secure interlocking of the parts at the corners, whereby the box is braced and strengthened and its utility is materially increased. To this end I provide every one of the radiating wings or flaps 3 at each end portion with a tongue receiving slot 7, and a projecting part 8, having a locking tongue piece or hook 9, and between each slot and each hooked part 8 I provide creases 10 and 12 which converge from the outer edge of the wing or flap to one of the orifices or cut out portions 5, for the purpose of facilitating the bending of the parts at the corners of the box.

In producing a box from the blank illustrated by Fig. 1, the flaps or wings are turned or bent upward approximately at rightangles to the bottom portion 1, and the end portions of the flaps are connected by inserting the hook extensions 9 into interlocked engagement with the rectilinear slots 7, in such manner that each end of every wing or flap enters into engagement with the slot in a contiguous wing or flap and also into engagement with the hook extension or locking tongue piece of such contiguous wing or flap. By this means the parts are securely connected through the medium of a duplex fastening and a double thickness of interlocking parts is provided at every box corner to brace and strengthen it at these points and thus promote its utility by rendering it more durable and efficient in use.

In the modification'Fig. 4, the construction is the same as described with reference to the remaining figures except that one of the flaps or wings is provided with a cover section, having a hooked portion to engage a slot in the wing or flap which is opposite that which carries the cover section.

In the modification Fig. 5, the construction is the same as described with reference to the remaining figures except that one of the wings or flaps 3 is formed with a cover section 13 having a hook 14 at each extremity and a hook 15 at its outer edge. The wing or flap which is opposite that which carries the cover section is provided with a slit 16 and the remaining two wings or flaps are provided with similar slits 17, so that when the blank is folded into box form and the parts interlocked as hereinbefore explained, the cover section can be closed and the hooks 14 and 15 caused to respectively engage the slits 16 and 17. This form of box or crate can be constructed of such size as to render it suitable as a crate in which to ship boxes constructed as shown in Fig. 3.

I do not herein broadly claim a box blank formed with radiating wings or flaps each of which is provided in proximity to one edge with a tongue receiving slot and at the opposite edge with a locking tongue piece or hook receiving slot and a projecting hook extension, so that each end of every wing or flap can enter into engagement with the slot in a contiguous wing or flap and also into engagement with the hook extension of such contiguous wing or flap, substantially as described.

2. A box composed of a blank formed with a series of radiating wings or flaps every one of which is formed at each end portion with a tongue receiving slot 7, converging creases 10 and 12, and a projecting hook extension 9, each end of every Wing or flap entering into engagement with the slot in a contiguous wing or flap and also into engagement with the hook extension of such contiguous wing or flap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED H. MEECI-I. 

